Good morning Myakka River Family,
One
more Monday…one more Monday….I think I can, I think I can!!! With summer right
around the corner, it is important we take a second to reflect on what we are
thankful for- I know all of us are thankful we made it through one more school
year! ;)
This year was full of changes, but with changes, we
learn to grow and become stronger. I can honestly say, you ALL are what I am thankful
for. In the past few weeks, not only myself, but you as well, have felt what it
is to be stressed-whether it be school, home, or in life. We all have those
moments in our lives but we can’t let them define us. We all are strong in our
own ways; we have to overcome the obstacles and struggles in our paths through
being thankful.
I recently read an article on the importance of being thankful
and showing gratitude. You would be shocked to hear that by having both,
thankfulness and gratitude, we can experience many health benefits. It states
people that are grateful may be more likely to:
·
take better care of themselves physically and mentally
·
engage in more protective health behaviors and maintenance
·
get more regular exercise
·
eat a healthier diet
·
have improved mental alertness
·
schedule regular physical examinations with their doctor
·
cope better with stress and daily challenges
·
feel happier and more optimistic
·
avoid problematic physical symptoms
·
have stronger immune systems
·
maintain a brighter view of the future
Who wouldn’t want all these benefits
in their life? Below are some simple steps to take so we can reap these health
benefits.
Focus Attention Outward
Your attitude plays a large role in determining whether you can
feel grateful in spite of life’s challenges. According to Emmons, gratitude is
defined by your attitude towards both the outside world and yourself. He
suggests that those who are more aware of the positives in their lives tend to
focus their attention outside of themselves.
Be Mindful of What You Have
You may assume that those with more material possessions have
more to be grateful for. However, research suggests otherwise. Edward
Diener, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois, found that a high
percentage of affluent people in Japan report low levels of life satisfaction,
just as those living in poverty in India do. These findings suggest that it’s
not how much you have, but how you feel about what you have that makes the
difference.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Recording what you feel grateful for in a journal is a great way
to give thanks on a regular basis. Emmons found that those who listed five
things they felt grateful for in a weekly gratitude journal reported fewer
health problems and greater optimism than those who didn’t. A second study
suggests that daily writing led to a greater increase in gratitude than weekly
writing.
Reframe Situations as Positive
It’s not actually a challenging situation that is upsetting.
It’s how you perceive the situation. The next time you find yourself
complaining about life’s hassles, see if you can mentally “flip the switch” to
frame things differently. For example, rather than getting down about missing
an opportunity, try to see the positive side. You might now have more time to
direct towards other priorities.
With this being said, I wish you all a great second
to last week. We hope you enjoy your summer break and take some time to relax. I can’t thank you enough for all that you do for
our school and students, you all are amazing Myakka River leaders!
http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/giving-thanks#3
